WEYAUWEGA – The Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbirds jumped on the Weyauwega-Fremont Varsity Warhawks early and never looked back, cruising to an 11-1 victory Monday at Weyauwega-Fremont High School.

Iola-Scandinavia broke the game open with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning and added another in the third, then poured it on against a Warhawks pitching staff that couldn’t contain the visitors’ patient approach and timely hitting. The Thunderbirds finished with nine walks, four stolen bases, and multiple multi-hit contributions up and down the lineup.

Mason Morfey earned the win on the mound for Iola-Scandinavia, delivering three hitless, scoreless innings. He struck out seven batters and walked one. Ben Gruba followed with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out one without allowing a hit or walk.

Burntreger took the loss for Weyauwega-Fremont, working three innings and surrendering three runs, one earned, on two hits. He struck out one and walked three.

Gruba led the Iola-Scandinavia offense, going 2-for-4 with three runs batted in from the No. 3 spot in the order. Broghan Gullixon and Wyatt Wolberg joined Gruba with two hits apiece. Dane Desrochers reached base twice via walks to pace the Thunderbirds’ patient plate approach. Gullixon also swiped two bases as Iola-Scandinavia totaled four stolen bases.

The Thunderbirds scored their first two runs in the second when Desrochers was hit by a pitch, and Jameson Heshcke delivered a sacrifice fly. Gruba’s single in the third pushed the lead to 3-0. Iola-Scandinavia then added eight more runs over the remainder of the contest to reach the final margin.

Defensively, the Thunderbirds turned two double plays. On the basepaths, they pressured the Warhawks throughout.

For Weyauwega-Fremont, C. Leschke drove in the team’s lone run. J. Hansen and No. 23 each recorded one hit. Carter Birdyshaw stole two bases, and the Warhawks turned three double plays in a defensive effort that kept the game from getting worse.

The Thunderbirds’ aggressive running game and ability to work counts helped them wear down the home pitching staff, while Morfey’s dominance on the mound prevented any early comeback chances. Weyauwega-Fremont managed just two hits for the game.

Iola-Scandinavia will travel to face the Clintonville Truckers Varsity on Tuesday.